Friday, June 1, 2007

Some years ago I had the pleasure of playing on this magnificent organ for an evening.

Jan Verburg plays psalm 138 by Margaretha Christina de Jong on the Moreau organ of the St Jan in Gouda.

You see and hear a wonderful sounding Flötenuhr, built by organ restorer Nico van Duren, followed by the famous Moreau organ (1736) at St Jan Cathedral Gouda, playing the same piece. Organist is Christiaan Ingelse. There is also a recording available, with both the instruments playing. The mechanical clock against the human being, so to say.

Barend Labee plays the Moreau organ in the St Jan at Gouda. by Margaretha Christina de Jong.

HISTORY

In 1732 the church councill of the Gouda Sint-Janskerk decided to replace the, in very poor condition, organ of Hendrik Niehoff. They chose the Flemish builder living in Rotterdam: Jacob Francois Moreau, who agreed to build an organ of 52 stops, divided over 3 manuals and pedal for the royal sum of 47.642 guilders.On May 13th, 1736 the new instrument was inaugurated. Since then many organ builders have worked on the Moreau organ, namely: Hermanuss Hess (brother of the period organist of the St.-Jan, Joachim Hess), F.G. Heyneman, J. Mittenreiter, N.A. Lohman (who constructed the beautiful keydesk), C.G.F. en J.F. Witte (who installed the present reeds) en Fa. J. de Koff (who placed the oberwerk (bovenwerk) in a swellbox).In the period 1959-1960 the organ was restored by Fa. D.A. Flentrop and from 1976-1981 by Orgelbouw Ernst Leeflang. Presently the organ is being maintained by Orgelmakerij Gebr. Reil B.V. who, in 2004, thoroughly cleaned all the reeds. Despite the fact that many organ builders have made changes to the organ, this beautiful organ has maintained its elegant, baroque and southern (French/Flemish) character.Also, the renovations in the 19th and 20th century have not essentially changed, but rather enhanced its character, so that the instrument is capable of performing much of the romantic and contemporary music.

Tuesday, May 1, 2007

The Hartness Organ at Furman University , Greenville, South Carolina.I had the privilege of playing on it for an evening when visiting my son Peter in South Carolina.
It is a very nice (tracker) instrument, and a joy to play.